Longevity research is on the rise with Genflow latest to file for patent

Genflow is the latest biotech company to announce that it is working on therapeutics targeting aging and age-related diseases.

The UK-based company is filing an international patent application in the US for variants of Sirtuin-6 (SIRT6), a gene variant found in centenarians that has been shown to promote longevity in mice.

SIRT6 has been labelled the “longevity sirtuin” as it has the capacity to repair DNA damage that contributes to aging. Researchers are studying its preventative potential for cardiovascular diseases in particular, as a lack of SIRT6 causes inflammation and cell damage that can lead to atherosclerosis and heart failure among other conditions.

The patent has been filed jointly with the University of Rochester, a prestigious private research university in New York. Genflow holds the exclusive license through the company’s Belgian subsidiary, Genflow Biosciences SRL. 

The rise of geroscience

Scientific research into longevity has ramped up in recent years, with the rise in demand for products and technologies that enable people to take control of their health and live for longer. 

Earlier this year biotech startup Altos Labs was formed, with a mission to develop cell therapies that can halt or reverse the aging process. The US$3  bn company is backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and has been called “the best funded biotech start-up to date.”

In a further sign that longevity research - also known as geroscience - is set to become the next breakthrough area of scientific research, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has formed Hevolution Foundation, a non-profit organization set to invest $1 bn a year in the study of aging and therapies that can extend people’s lives.

Commenting on the patent filing, Dr Eric Leire, Founder and CEO of Genflow, said: “I am proud of the excellent progress that Genflow has made by filing the patent and we look forward to contributing to the growing body of research on longevity, while also enhancing our patent portfolio. This marks a significant step in strengthening our IP position.”

Quick links

• Rewriting the human genome
• How to use connected innovation intelligence for drug discovery and development
• The top 10 pharma companies on the 2022 Fortune 500 list

Get exclusive access to member-only articles, reports, videos, interviews, webinars and other premium content from industry experts and thought leaders by signing up to Pharma IQ here.